According to new numbers released by the FERC, the American solar industry added more new wattage than the coal industry. This is the first time this has happened. The year was truly impressive for solar, which finished only behind natural gas in terms of new electrical generation in 2013. Additionally, the industry created 24,000 new jobs, bring the industry’s total employment up to 142,000. In the first 9 months of 2013, renewable sources accounted for over 30% of new wattage added, with 3,218 MW of renewable energy capacity added during that timeframe. Solar was by far the most productive of the renewable energy sources, with 146 new plants creating 1,935 new MW. It was followed by 9 new plants for wind energy creating 961 MW and biomass at 192 MW. By comparison, coal created 1,543 new MW (14.40% of the total new generation capacity), oil created 27 MW (.25%), and nuclear added none. All sources fell far below the new production of energy from natural gas. Natural gas added 51 units with some 5,854 MW installed during the timeframe. Total electrical generation from renewables now stands at 15.68% of the total installed U.S. operating generating capacity, out-producing nuclear and oil combined.